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Evan Neal

Giants Start Evan Neal At RT

November 10th, 2024 at 9:25am CST by Rory Parks

Evan Neal is back in the starting lineup. After playing a grand total of two snaps over the first nine games of the 2024 season, the Giants are deploying Neal at right tackle for today’s Week 10 bout against the Panthers, as Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com details. Jermaine Eluemunor will line up at left tackle.

New York selected Neal with the No. 7 overall pick of the 2022 draft, though his performance over his first two years in the pros did not align with his draft status. During that time, the Alabama product started 20 games and struggled mightily, finishing as the second-worst OT in the league in each season in the estimation of Pro Football Focus’ metrics.

In Week 9 of the 2023 campaign, Neal suffered what was initially believed to be a sprained ankle, but follow-up testing became necessary after he did not heal as expected. The additional examination revealed a broken foot that required surgery, and he spent the first several weeks of this year’s training camp on the PUP list. Eluemunor, who was initially signed to compete for guard duties, built some momentum for the starting RT gig in Neal’s absence, and since the Giants quickly abandoned the notion of having Neal line up at guard, the third-year blocker landed in a reserve role.

Even when left tackle Andrew Thomas was lost for the season due to a foot injury of his own, New York opted to keep Eluemunor on the right side while giving LT reps first to Joshua Ezeudu and then to recent signee Chris Hubbard (Neal has not been considered a legitimate option for game action on the blind side). But there is a reason Hubbard was available to be signed off the 49ers’ practice squad in October, and he did not play particularly well during his two-game audition with Big Blue. It therefore makes sense for a 2-7 Giants club to see if Neal can begin living up to his potential at RT. Indeed, the team did not consider trading Neal in advance of this year’s deadline. 

Although Neal is eligible for a new contract at season’s end, even an outstanding performance down the stretch of the 2024 campaign would likely not be enough for the New York front office (regardless of who is leading it) to make such a move. However, a strong showing could at least encourage the club to exercise Neal’s fifth-year option.

Carolina, another 2-7 outfit, represented a logical opponent for Neal’s first extensive 2024 work, as the Panthers’ edge defenders are not a particularly imposing group.

Trade Notes: Lions, Ojulari, Browning, Raiders, Neal

November 3rd, 2024 at 10:38pm CST by Adam La Rose

A report from Sunday afternoon indicated the Lions are close to completing a trade for Za’Darius Smith. The veteran Browns edge rusher has long been linked to Detroit, a team which has been on the lookout for help in that area since losing Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport to major injuries.

Of course, the Lions have explored other options as well. Their process of seeking out suitable targets has included interest in Maxx Crosby, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports. To no surprise, though, the Lions have been told Crosby is unavailable. Raiders owner Mark Davis has made it clear on multiple occasions the three-time Pro Bowler will not be dealt, recently adding that sentiment also applies beyond this year’s deadline.

Detroit could show interest in the likes of Jadeveon Clowney and/or Chase Young, and the Titans’ Arden Key is the most recent name to emerge as a potential target. The members of that group would likely no longer be on the Lions’ radar provided a Smith agreement came to fruition, but they could be in play if that does not turn out to be the case. Detroit’s willingness to aim big by inquiring about Crosby is another indication of the team’s intention of making another deep playoff run in 2024.

Here are some more trade-related notes from around the league:

  • Neither Darius Slayton nor Azeez Ojulari are believed to have been the subject of any Giants extension talks, pointing further in the direction of one or both being traded. After New York’s Week 9 loss, Ojulari confirmed to Ryan Novozinsky of NJ.com no talks have taken place on the contract front. While that has made him the trade target of multiple teams, the 24-year-old said he prefers to remain with the Giants. Slayton has similarly made public his desire to stay in place despite the team’s 2-7 record, although he has been the subject of trade speculation on multiple occasions over the years. Ojulari could offer a notable rental boost to many teams, but it remains to be seen if the Giants will entertain offers including minimal draft capital.
  • The Broncos sit at 5-4 on the year after Sunday’s loss. The team might not adopt a firm buyer’s or seller’s stance in advance of the trade deadline, but that could still result in a move being made. Edge rusher Baron Browning has previously been floated as a trade candidate, and his name continues to be mentioned in rumors. Both Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports and Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk report the 25-year-old is a name to watch over the coming days. Browning, who is nearing the end of his rookie contract, wants to remain in Denver, although he recently acknowledged an extension does not seem to be around the corner.
  • Crosby is off limits, but the Raiders could be open to selling off at other positions with a 2-7 record. Jakobi Meyers is among the receivers who could still be on the move, and plenty of teams who have yet to add in the pass-catching department could be active before the deadline. With that said, Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal writes the Raiders are not actively shopping Meyers or any other players. SI’s Albert Breer corroborates that, adding Crosby is set to remain in place. The team will, of course, take calls from potential suitors while looking ahead to at least one QB addition ahead of 2025. Adding draft capital could aid Vegas’ attempts to acquire a franchise passer.
  • Evan Neal‘s time with the Giants so far has – to put it lightly – not gone according to plan. The 2022 No. 7 pick has found himself out of the starting lineup at guard and tackle, although with injuries up front that could change somewhat soon. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler writes Neal is a “nonstarter” on the trade front from New York’s perspective. That comes as little surprise since the Alabama product’s value in a swap would fall well short of the capital invested in him two years ago. Neal is attached to his rookie contract through 2025, leaving him some runway to bounce back from his earlier struggles in time for free agency.

Giants Notes: Barkley, Banks, Neal, Hubbard

November 1st, 2024 at 11:47am CST by Sam Robinson

Thanks in part to HBO, Saquon Barkley‘s New York exit has been one of the more thoroughly examined free agency choices in PFR’s history. The NFL’s second-leading rusher this season was not in the Giants’ 2024 plans, and he had effectively decided to move on before this year’s free agency. The 2023 offseason paved Barkley’s path to Philly, and while much is known about the Giants and their six-year RB1 not agreeing on an extension last year, The Athletic’s Dan Duggan indicates Barkley declined the team’s March 2023 offer — believed to be in the $13MM-per-year ballpark — because it included only $19.5MM guaranteed (subscription required).

The Giants famously prioritized Daniel Jones over Barkley in March 2023, re-signing the QB and tagging the RB. When the Giants and Barkley huddled up again before the July deadline, the team’s final offer came in at $22MM guaranteed. That would have covered nearly two franchise tags, though it fell just short of doing so. A guarantee including two tag amounts is generally viewed as the floor for extension talks with tagged players, but this July offer came after the Giants had previously proposed $23.5MM guaranteed, Duggan adds. Barkley passed, as the Giants also reduced the AAV on their final proposal — a three-year, $33MM deal in total — and then proceeded to win a bet on himself.

Barkley pocketed the $10.1MM franchise tag salary and then scored a $26MM guarantee at signing from the Eagles. While Giants pro scouting director Chris Rossetti suggested a value gap may exist between Barkley and the other 2024 FA RBs, the team did not opt for a second tag, leading to the Eagles payday. The Giants were not happy at the appearance of Barkley’s Eagles framework being done before the legal tampering period, per ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan and Tim McManus, who added the Eagles wondered why their rivals were irked due to being prepared to let the two-time Pro Bowler walk anyway. The NFL cleared the Eagles of tampering this summer.

Here is the latest from the NFC’s New York team:

  • The Giants benched Deonte Banks for what Brian Daboll classified as insufficient effort during their Monday loss to the Steelers. While Daboll confirmed (via the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy) Banks will start in Week 9, concerns about the 2023 first-round cornerback’s effort level have come up previously. Two prior warnings about effort are believed to have came Banks’ way from New York’s coaching staff, per the New York Post’s Paul Schwartz, who adds teammates have expressed issues at the Maryland alum’s work here as well. The Giants made Banks the center of their CB plan this offseason, as they had intended to let Adoree’ Jackson walk (before re-signing the veteran days before Week 1). Pro Football Focus ranks Banks 87th among corners this season.
  • Evan Neal saw his first 2024 action Monday, playing just one snap in Pittsburgh. The former No. 7 overall pick’s stock has nosedived since his 2023 ankle injury. The Giants had not viewed Neal as their swing tackle going into the season, giving 2022 third-rounder Joshua Ezeudu that role. Ezeudu replaced Andrew Thomas initially but struggled, leading to Chris Hubbard — signed off the 49ers’ practice squad — starting in Pittsburgh. Hubbard will start again in Week 9, Daboll notes, while new Giants O-line coach Carmen Bricillo confirms (via the New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard) Neal remains an RT-only player. Neal has done work at LT before and after practice, but the Giants still do not view the demoted RT starter as an option to fill in for Thomas on the blindside.
  • The Giants met with former Cardinals left tackle D.J. Humphries last week, marking the offseason cap casualty’s first tie to a team since his release. Humphries did not sign, and Daboll (via Duggan) pointed to a financial gap existing between team and player. The Giants hold only $1.7MM in cap space, while Humphries was previously tied to a three-year, $51MM Cardinals deal. The nine-year veteran is coming off an ACL tear sustained in December of last year.

OL Notes: Ravens, Mekari, Dolphins, Brewer, Bengals, Brown, Giants, Neal, Patriots

September 4th, 2024 at 4:07pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

After an overhaul of their offensive line this offseason, the Ravens appear to have landed on veteran Patrick Mekari as their starting right tackle to open the 2024 season. Though Baltimore has resisted making any formal announcements about their starting OL, offensive coordinator Todd Monken pointed toward Mekari starting to open the year, per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. Mekari is also listed as the team’s starting RT on their official depth chart after competing with rookie Roger Rosengarten for the job throughout training camp.

The Ravens used a second-round pick on Rosengarten this year and gave him plenty of chances to win a starting gig over the summer. He frequently took reps with the first-team offense in practice and played 86 snaps at right tackle in the preseason, but that may not have been enough to overcome Mekari’s consistency over the past few seasons. A sixth-year blocker, Mekari has stepped up at both tackle positions. He started at LT when Ronnie Stanley was injured in 2022 and rotated snaps at RT as Morgan Moses played through a torn pectoral in 2023.

Mekari’s experience (36 starts) likely played a factor in the Ravens’ decision. Baltimore traded Moses to the Jets in March and also allowed veteran starting guards John Simpson and Kevin Zeitler to leave in free agency, opening up three new spots along the offensive line. With Andrew Vorhees and Daniel Faalele stepping into starting guard roles for the first time, the Ravens appear to be opting for a known quantity in Mekari over the unproven Rosengarten.

Here’s the rest of the news from offensive lines around the NFL:

  • Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said that starting center Aaron Brewer will practice this week after recovering from a hand injury, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Miami added Brewer on a three-year, $21MM this offseason after starting at center for the Titans in 2023. His hand injury, producing a multi-week absence, has raised concerns about his snapping ability. But McDaniel seemed confident about Brewer’s readiness to start in Week 1.
  • The Bengals have landed on veteran Trent Brown to start at right tackle over first-round pick Amarius Mims, per Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic. Mims has struggled with a pectoral injury throughout training camp, limiting his reps with Cincinnati’s first-team offense. The 18th overall pick did not practice on Monday, but did return in a limited capacity Wednesday. As Mims gets up to full speed physically and mentally, the Bengals will look to Brown, a nine-year veteran who signed a one-year, $4.75MM deal in March. Mims was seen as a developmental prospect during the pre-draft process, so it’s not surprising that the Bengals have opted for a conservative approach with a player they see as a long-term pillar of their offensive line.
  • Brian Daboll announced that Evan Neal will remain exclusively at tackle after the Giants toyed with the idea of trying him out at guard, according to Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post. “We have enough guards,” said Daboll, “He needs to continue to work at right tackle.” The No. 7 overall pick in 2022 opened the past two seasons as the team’s starting RT, but injuries limited him to just 20 games. He also struggled to transition to right tackle after spending his senior year as a left tackle at Alabama. New York signed Jermaine Eluemunor on a two-year, $14MM deal this offseason. With Neal struggling to overcome his ankle injury early in camp, the ex-Raider took over the RT job.
  • The Patriots are working through multiple injuries along their offensive line as they put together their starting five before Week 1. Left guard starter Sidy Sow and Vederian Lowe, the latter having vied for a starting tackle job after playing LT and RT in 2023, are both nursing injuries. This potentially leaves rookie Layden Robinson as the team’s top option at RG come Sunday, according to Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald. The fourth-round pick impressed in training camp and even earned a few first-team reps in the preseason. Third-round rookie Caedan Wallace is expected to start the year as the Patriots’ swing tackle after training at both left and right tackle this summer.

OL Notes: Broncos, Wattenberg, Raiders, Cowboys, Beebe, Patriots, Giants, Neal

August 22nd, 2024 at 8:14pm CST by Sam Robinson

The center position sticks out on Denver’s offensive line. Four eight-figure-per-year contracts populate the Broncos‘ front, giving Bo Nix a solid batch of blockers as he begins his career. But the team did not bring in a starter-caliber player to replace Lloyd Cushenberry, who signed a big-ticket deal with the Titans. A matchup of recent Day 3 picks in training camp is close to being resolved. Luke Wattenberg has started Denver’s two preseason games, and the coaching staff views the 2022 fifth-rounder as having made great strides ahead of his third season. Wattenberg should be considered the favorite to start over 2023 seventh-rounder Alex Forsyth (despite the latter having been Nix’s 2022 center at Oregon), per the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson.

A Washington alum already going into his age-27 season, Wattenberg has two seasons left on his rookie contract. He has played 128 career snaps. This will be an adjustment for the Broncos, who used Cushenberry as a starter for four seasons. But Wattenberg’s fifth-round contract will mesh well on a line with Garett Bolles, Ben Powers, Mike McGlinchey and now Quinn Meinerz on pricey deals.

Here is the latest from the O-line ranks:

  • The Patriots will of course look into additions on the waiver wire, when hundreds of cut players will be available come Wednesday, but de facto GM Eliot Wolf said (via MassLive.com’s Karen Guregian) the team is content with its current mix up front. In addition to being without left guard Cole Strange, the Pats have not named their starting tackles. It appears to be trending toward 2023 late-August trade pickup Vederian Lowe at LT and street FA addition Chukwuma Okorafor at RT, the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed writes. Jerod Mayo both said he had wanted an O-line settled before the third preseason game and that Drake Maye‘s short outing in the preseason opener came from an uneasiness about the front five. This does not paint a picture of stability entering the season, which would make it rather interesting if Mayo and Wolf opted to open the year with Maye starting.
  • Cooper Beebe had been mentioned as a strong candidate to replace Tyler Biadasz as the Cowboys‘ center, but Brock Hoffman — a 2022 UDFA who started two games last season — had worked exclusively in that spot during most of training camp. Beebe, however, has received first-team work recently, Saad Youself of The Athletic notes (subscription required). Since that insertion, Beebe looks to be moving toward landing the gig. The third-round rookie appears the more likely starter, Yousef adds, with Hoffman — despite his weeks-long run with the first unit — seemingly ticketed for a backup role.
  • After a shoulder injury kept Jackson Powers-Johnson out of OTAs, and a concussion sustained at minicamp sidelined the second-round pick for months. Powers-Johnson only returned to Raiders practice recently. The team had hoped the Oregon center would win its LG job from the jump, but the time off will likely delay his start to the season. Antonio Pierce said (via The Athletic’s Tashan Reed) Powers-Johnson is unlikely for Week 1. Free agent signing Cody Whitehair has worked as Las Vegas’ starting LG and is poised to keep that role to open the season. The Bears demoted the longtime starter midway through last season, making his Raiders fit — with ex-Bears OC Luke Getsy calling the shots — interesting. But the 32-year-old blocker looks like a Week 1 starter.
  • Last year’s Raiders RG starter, Greg Van Roten is reprising his right-side tandem with Jermaine Eluemunor in New York. If Giants center John Michael Schmitz misses time, however, The Athletic’s Dan Duggan expects the recently added guard to slide to center. Free agent pickup Aaron Stinnie would replace Van Roten, 34, at guard in this scenario.
  • Duggan drops another concerning nugget about Evan Neal‘s status as well, indicating the displaced RT starter is not a lock to be active on gamedays due to only taking reps at right tackle since coming back from ankle surgery. Joshua Ezeudu, who has worked at both left and right tackle spots during camp, would be the Giants’ swing tackle if Neal’s transition from top-10 pick to healthy scratch actually happens.

Giants Activate RT Evan Neal

August 11th, 2024 at 10:28am CST by Rory Parks

Giants right tackle Evan Neal has passed a physical and has been activated off the PUP list, the club announced. The team also signed linebacker K.J. Cloyd and waived defensive back Kaleb Hayes.

New York selected Neal with the No. 7 overall pick of the 2022 draft, though his performance over his first two years in the pros has not aligned with his draft status. During that time, the Alabama product has started 20 games and has struggled mightily, finishing as the second-worst OT in the league in each season in the estimation of Pro Football Focus’ metrics.

In Week 9 of the 2023 campaign, Neal suffered what was initially believed to be a sprained ankle, but follow-up testing became necessary after he did not heal as expected. The additional examination revealed a broken foot that required surgery, and he is getting back on the field several weeks after training camp opened.

Now, it is fair to wonder if Neal will be able to work his way back into the starting lineup, as Connor Hughes of SNY.tv notes. In training camp, free agent acquisition Jermaine Eluemunor has been taking the first-team reps at right tackle in Neal’s absence, and he played well as the Raiders’ primary RT over each of the past two seasons. He does offer some versatility and could kick inside to guard — he lined up at LG during the Giants’ offseason practices — but his recent tackle work is far to superior to what Neal has submitted to date.

Neal could theoretically move to the interior of the line himself, though prior reports indicated that Big Blue has no plans to make such a move. Plus, the Giants recently added Greg Van Roten, who lined up at right guard alongside Eluemunor in Vegas last year and who is very much in the mix to start at RG for New York this season. Another offseason signing, Jon Runyan, appears poised to line up at left guard, and the starting center position is simply waiting for 2023 second-rounder John Michael Schmitz to return from a shoulder injury.

As such, it appears that Eluemunor and Neal are battling for the right tackle gig, and given Neal’s level of play in the NFL and Hughes’ recent report that the third-year blocker has fallen out of favor with the team — to say nothing of the notable two-year, $14MM deal that the Giants authorized for Eluemunor — Neal could start his third professional season as a backup.

Giants Not Committing To Evan Neal Being Ready By Week 1

July 30th, 2024 at 2:28pm CST by Sam Robinson

Not viewed as a “break glass in case of emergency”-level option at tackle, Jermaine Eluemunor nevertheless changed positions to start Giants training camp. The two-year Raiders right tackle starter, who worked at left guard throughout the Giants’ offseason program, has lined up at RT with the first-stringers during training camp.

The Giants have now also signed Greg Van Roten, who lined up alongside Eluemunor in Las Vegas at right guard last season. A starting job could well open up for Van Roten, as the Giants still do not have Evan Neal at practice. Expected to return by training camp and be given another opportunity to stick at right tackle, Neal appears without a timetable.

Aiming to return from a fractured ankle initially diagnosed as a sprain last November, Neal landed on the Giants’ active/PUP list to start camp. Although that is a summer-only designation, Brian Daboll did not commit to Neal being ready by Week 1.

Unless the Giants were to take it week by week and carry the former top-10 pick on their 53-man roster on cutdown day next month, a transition to the reserve/PUP list — which mandates a four-game absence — would seem to be in play. Daboll called Neal “day to day,” via the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy, though SNY’s Connor Hughes classifies this situation as Neal “falling out of favor” with the team. This is obviously quite concerning for Neal, whose injury came after steady struggles on the field.

Jon Runyan Jr., who had lined up at right guard during the Giants’ offseason program, has shifted to the left side following the Van Roten signing, Hughes adds. The team had partially placed the ex-Packer at RG to help protect Neal, who has struggled since being drafted seventh overall in 2022. The Runyan component could certainly point to Week 1 plans that do not involve Neal with the first-stringers, though the $10MM-per-year player did play left guard in 2021 and part of the 2022 season.

Neal, whom Pro Football Focus has ranked as the NFL’s second-worst tackle regular in each of his two seasons, has made 20 starts at right tackle. The Alabama alum been connected to a potential guard move. He played inside partially in college, but GM Joe Schoen said last year a move inside was unlikely. At this point, returning to practice and attempting to win any job would represent a win for the third-year blocker. While Kayvon Thibodeaux has panned out for the Giants, GM Joe Schoen‘s other top-10 pick in his first draft disappointing on this level has represented a significant letdown.

The Giants needed to rearrange their O-line at several points last season, which memorably included Justin Pugh‘s “straight off the couch” Sunday Night Football intro, and allowed a staggering 85 sacks — the second-most in NFL history. Multiple players changing positions, along with potentially a new starter preparing to step in, would represent familiar territory for the team. Unless Neal makes significant strides soon, he is running out of time to win back his starting job.

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/23/24

July 23rd, 2024 at 8:25pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

  • Signed: OT Julién Davenport

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

  • Reverted to IR: WR Jared Wayne
  • Released from IR: WR Jaxon Janke

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Giants’ Evan Neal To Return At Training Camp; Joshua Ezeudu In Place As Swing Tackle

June 18th, 2024 at 1:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

Evan Neal‘s performance to date has not come especially close to justifying his No. 7 overall draft slot, and the young tackle ran into a significant injury issue midway through his second season. Although Neal went down in early November, the Giants kept him off the practice field throughout their offseason program.

The 2022 draftee suffered what was believed to be a sprained ankle in Week 9 — the same day Daniel Jones‘ ACL tear occurred — but follow-up testing became necessary after the Alabama alum was not healing as expected. The additional testing revealed a broken foot that required surgery. The Giants have slow-played Neal’s comeback, but Brian Daboll confirmed (via the New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard) he will be back at practice during training camp.

Big Blue added multiple starter-level pieces up front, along with a host of potential depth options this offseason. Jermaine Eluemunor, the Raiders’ primary right tackle over the past two seasons, is in place as the team’s first-string left guard. Eluemunor said (via Leonard) he can slide to right tackle if necessary but confirmed he is preparing for his first Giants season by working solely at guard.

The prospect of Eluemunor working at guard, opposite $10MM-per-year free agent Jon Runyan Jr., emerged several weeks ago. Despite most of the veteran’s starting experience coming at right tackle, Leonard adds the Giants kept Eluemunor at left guard throughout their offseason program. Third-year blocker Joshua Ezeudu, who was part of the Giants’ guard competition last year, appears in line for the team’s swing role behind starters Neal and Andrew Thomas.

Injuries to Thomas and Matt Peart early last season prompted the Giants to kick Ezeudu — a 2022 third-round pick — to left tackle. That effort did not go well. Pro Football Focus charged the North Carolina alum with five sacks allowed despite playing on just 266 snaps. Ezeudu was also lost for the season midway through, sustaining a toe injury in Week 6. The Giants expected Ezeudu would win one of their guard competitions during training camp last year. After he failed to do so before going down with the toe injury, two UFA additions are in place at guard. Peart has since signed with the Broncos.

Eluemunor would seem a more stable option as a swing tackle, though that route would require New York to plug someone else in at guard. Although the team did not re-sign starter Ben Bredeson or the injury-prone Shane Lemieux, it did add ex-Buccaneers spot starter Aaron Stinnie and swingman Austin Schlottmann in free agency. Ex-Lion Matt Nelson and former Falcons guard starter Jalen Mayfield, given a reserve/futures deal in January, are also set to vie for backup roles in training camp.

Of course, the Giants will hope none of these RT contingency plans will be necessary. They have seen a top-10 tackle pick (Ereck Flowers) fail to impress in the not-so-distant past; Neal following suit would be a blow for the Joe Schoen regime. PFF, though, slotted Neal 80th among tackle regulars in both of his two NFL seasons.

As Neal attempts to complete his recovery from the foot fracture, he will certainly need to show improved form to stay on track as a starter.

Giants Keeping Evan Neal At RT; Team Viewing Jermaine Eluemunor As G?

April 13th, 2024 at 12:49pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jermaine Eluemunor‘s Raiders run offers the Giants some flexibility up front. The veteran, who received a considerable raise from the Giants this offseason, played tackle and guard in Las Vegas. A potential threat to Evan Neal, Eluemunor looks to first be on track to return to an inside role.

Although Neal has not delivered anything close to what the Giants hoped for when they chose him seventh overall in 2022, no plans to kick the Alabama alum inside are on tap. Neal is staying at right tackle, SNY’s Connor Hughes notes.

Neal missed the second half of last season due to the fractured ankle — a diagnosis that surfaced after his rehab stalled — he suffered in early November, but he may be on notice after concerning early returns. Pro Football Focus has rated Neal as the NFL’s second-worst tackle regular (80th of 81) in each of his two seasons. The Giants, who saw top-10 investments fail to produce a tackle answer in Justin Pugh and Ereck Flowers during the 2010s, would be staring at a major draft whiff if this trajectory continues.

The Giants gave Eluemunor a two-year, $14MM deal on Day 1 of the legal tampering period. This marks a significant raise from Eluemunor’s most recent Raiders contract (one year, $3MM), with his Giants guarantee ($6.75MM) outpacing each of his three Raiders deals combined. Although Eluemunor’s work as Las Vegas’ right tackle garnered him this Giants deal, Big Blue added him to start somewhere else up front, according to The Athletic’s Dan Duggan, who lists the eighth-year veteran as the team’s right guard starter opposite fellow UFA addition Jon Runyan Jr. (subscription required). Runyan worked at both guard posts in Green Bay, but Duggan adds he prefers left guard.

Playing a key role in Josh Jacobs‘ 2022 rushing title, Eluemunor graded 21st and 36th at tackle (per PFF) over the past two years. He has experience as an emergency RT solution, having provided the Raiders a safety net after their surprise Alex Leatherwood first-round investment bombed. Eluemunor also played exclusively at right guard in 2021 (though, he only logged 266 snaps that year). Exclusively a tackle in his only other extended starter run (with the Patriots in 2020), Eluemunor at guard seems a somewhat risky proposition for the Giants due to his limited NFL history here.

The team held a guard competition last year, one that featured Ben Bredeson, Mark Glowinski and Joshua Ezeudu. The team had expected Ezeudu, a 2022 third-round pick, would win the starting left guard job. But he did not do so out of training camp; the North Carolina alum suffered a season-ending toe injury in October. While Ezeudu remains on New York’s roster, Bredeson, Glowinski and Shane Lemieux are out of the picture. The team did add ex-Buccaneers spot starter Aaron Stinnie and swingman Austin Schlottmann in free agency, potentially offering help if Eluemunor needs to be moved back to tackle to replace Neal.

Neal was viewed by some as a future guard when he entered the draft, having started 13 games at left guard in 2019. GM Joe Schoen, however, said midway through last season the team still viewed Neal as a tackle. As the Giants begin their offseason, that remains the plan. Though, Neal’s January surgery may leave him sidelined during part of the offseason program. Once the 23-year-old blocker returns to work, this will be a pivotal offseason.

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